The absentee lawmakers failed to obtain the 49 lawmakers to oust Speaker Koffa over a month after the Koffa removal plot was launched.
By Bridgett Milton
Monrovia, November 20, 2024: The majority bloc of the 55th House of Representatives has immediately suspended three lawmakers for 30 session days without benefit and all legislative functions for alleged misconduct.
The suspended lawmakers include Bong County District # 3 Rep. J. Marvin Cole, Montserrado County District # 15 Rep. Abu Kamara, and Montserrado County District #13 Rep. Edward P. Flomo.
The majority bloc is made of absentee lawmakers seeking the removal of House Speaker Fonati Koffa.
The group failed to obtain the 49 lawmakers required to oust Speaker Koffa over a month after the Koffa removal plot was launched.
However, the majority bloc claimed it was suspending the three lawmakers on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, after it failed to have them appear before an investigative committee of the whole.
The investigative committee, organized by absent lawmakers, is supposed to investigate allegations of gross disrespect and public disrepute toward the majority bloc.
The majority bloc said its decision aligns with the House’s standing rules 48.1.
At the same time, Montserrado County District # 9 Rep. Frank Saah Foko, Gbarpolu County District # 1 Rep. Zinnah Norman, and Sinoe County District #3 Rep. Alex S. Noah are still undergoing investigation by the committee of the whole.
The group noted that the body will decide on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
The majority bloc has also unanimously voted to remove Montserrado County District #16 Representative Dixon Seboe as chairman of the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee.
The group has also removed Margibi County District # 3 Representative Ellen Attoh Wreh as Co-Chair on the Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget Committee.
The absentee lawmakers have appointed Maryland County District #1 Rep. P. Mark Jurry as Acting Chairman. In contrast, Bong County District # 2 Representative James Kolleh has replaced J. Marvin Cole as Acting Chair on Rules, Order, and Administration.
Meanwhile, the majority bloc has mandated the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Liberia, and all commercial banks not to do business with the suspended lawmakers on behalf of the House of Representatives.
In a related development, two strong men from embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s bloc have joined the majority bloc.
They have increased the number of Representatives in the anti-Koffa bloc to 45.
According to them, any bribe did not influence their decision, but it was a decision made by their employer and in the interest of the Liberian people.
